Great Sand Dunes Click for larger image

Table of contents

1 Basic information 2 American history 3 Scenery 4 Fun for kids of all ages 5 Access 6 Geology 7 Information for the visitor 8 External links and references

Basic information

The sand dunes rise close to 230 meters (about 750 feet) from the floor of the San Luis Valley in front of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, covering about 78 square kilometers (about 30 square miles). They are the tallest sand dunes in North America.

American history

They were made a national monument in 1932. On November 22 2000, United States President Bill Clinton signed the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Act of 2000, aiming at ultimate national park status, after more land is acquired.

Scenery

According to the National Park Service web site below (references), they now also contain

alpine lakes and tundra, six peaks over 13,000' in elevation, ancient spruce and pine forests, large stands of aspen and cottonwood, grasslands, and wetlands — all habitat for diverse wildlife and plant species.

You might imagine you're in the Sahara Desert or a Western movie. Hiking is permitted, with the warning the sand can get hot in the summer, up to 60 Celsius (~140 Fahrenheit). The area gets snow in the winter. Some go on pack trips with horses.

Access

The closest city is Alamosa, Colorado, though Colorado Springs, Denver and Albuquerque, New Mexico are not far off. Consult the references for more information.

Geology

Anyone who visits the dunes has to wonder, "Where did such a bizarre feature come from? Why here?" They trace to perhaps 12,000 years ago.

The dunes were formed from sand deposits of the Rio Grande River and its tributaries, flowing through the San Luis Valley. Over the ages, westerly winds have picked up sand particles as they flew over the Rocky Mountains and down over the river flood plain. As the wind lost power before crossing the Sangre de Cristo mountains, the sand was deposited on the east edge of the valley. This continues, and the dunes are slowly enlarging by the wind that daily changes the shape of the dunes. There are areas of black sand which are deposits of magnetite, a crystalline black oxide of iron.

Information for the visitor

Some information compliments of the DesertUSA web site below in references (text slightly modified due to copyright; valid as of February 2004):

Seasons and Hours

''The dunes are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The visitor Center is open daily, but is closed on winter holidays.

Rates and Fees

Entrance: $3.00 per person seventeen years and older, valid seven days.

Camping: $10.00 per night; to a max of six people per site; there is a two vehicle limit per sight.

Reservations

''Backcountry camping requires backcountry permits; these may be obtained at the Visitor Center.

Visitor Center.

The Visitor Center is open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm daily, except for winter holidays.